By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It will be business as usual for students of Union City Schools when they return from their holiday break Tuesday.
In-person instruction every day of the week is on the docket for students on all three UC Schools campuses, according to Director of Schools Wes Kennedy.
Kennedy made the decision Wednesday to return to traditional educational and classroom settings to begin the second semester next week. That means the 1,600-plus students in the UC System will transition to the Level 2 plan from the 2.51 version that mixed in-person and distance learning for those in Grades 7-12.
In the 2.0 plan, social distancing will still be observed in all classrooms and face masks will be required. Frequently-touched surfaces will be disinfected between classes, and hand sanitizer will be encouraged in all settings and classrooms.
Masks will still be mandatory for those who ride buses, too.
Kennedy cited the advancement of COVID-19 vaccine availability, the decline in numbers of virus cases in the UC school population and community, and the significant decrease in the number of distance learners among several factors in his decision.
Equally as important, he cited the continued learning loss of students in comparison to “normal years” that happened over the first semester via the blended schedule.
Those students at UC Middle School and UCHS already involved in distance learning will still be utilizing the Microsoft TEAMS platform for lessons and assignments, but must now take all tests on campus on Saturdays at their respective schools.
Testing centers will be set up in each school library from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. each Saturday. This is to ensure that distance learners will be able to social distance while taking tests and also protect the validity of the tests.
Distance learners who are absent on Saturdays for an assigned test will receive a zero for that particular test. Saturday testing will be for those who continue to go distance learning, not for those students who are keeping up with their studies through TEAMS due to illness.
Any student who attends a school athletic event or other school event besides Saturday testing will have distance learning privileges revoked, according to the UC Schools top administrator.
“So many things have had an adverse impact on our students in the first semester of this school year, and not having in-person learning every day is one of the leading things,” Kennedy said. “A day of reckoning is coming, and I just truly believe our students need and deserve some sense of normalcy.
“Obviously, this will remain a fluid situation. We’ll continue to monitor all factors and statistics in regard to the number of active cases in our stakeholders and in the community in the coming days and weeks. “
UC Schools personnel will participate in a Professional Development Day Monday prior to beginning classes on Tuesday of next week.